Opening of £11.1m SEND teaching block and hydrotherapy pool makes a splash in Surrey
Morgan Sindall Construction has celebrated the opening of a new SEND teaching block and specialist hydrotherapy pool at Philip Southcote School in Addlestone.
To mark this milestone, the Morgan Sindall project team, members of Surrey County Council, teachers, pupils, and their families gathered at the school, where students were delighted to show their families around the new classrooms.
The tier one contractor was appointed to the project by Surrey County Council (SCC) and the scheme was procured through the fifth generation of the Southern Construction Framework (SCF5), a collaborative procurement and delivery framework delivering value for money and project predictability.
SCC invested £11.1million into the buildings, which include new classrooms, an ICT suite, additional provisions for hearing-impaired students, and the hydrotherapy pool, creating 27 additional school places as well as upgrading spaces for 24 existing pupils. To officially open the new teaching block and pool building, Deputy Mayor of Runnymede, Margaret Harnden, cut the white ribbon at the opening event.
This three-form entry Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) School accommodates students aged 11 to 19, fostering a sense of belonging so that children feel safe throughout their educational journey.
Morgan Sindall led the construction work with design, property, and construction consultants Pellings. Pellings provided the designs for the new teaching block and Morgan Sindall’s design team created the plans for the hydrotherapy pool building.
This is the first project to be completed under the SCF5 framework, which was developed to support public sector construction and development in the region, across education, health, local authority and leisure developments. Contractors on the framework have demonstrated exemplary carbon benchmarking.
To align with SCC’s net zero ambitions, the 12 x 6m² pool showcases cutting-edge technology and offers carbon reductions of up to 45%. The school’s sustainability performance was informed by Morgan Sindall’s Intelligent Solutions approach to construction, which included installing air source heat pumps and adding photovoltaic panels to both buildings. Additionally, the pool design also includes hydromassage areas to promote circulation and relaxation, providing increased ergonomic benefits.
To make a positive impact on Addlestone’s community throughout construction, Morgan Sindall employed local site operatives who live within 20 miles of the school as part of the supply chain, enriching the local economy. The project team also hired 16 work placement students, empowering the next generation of construction professionals to gain hands-on experience on site.
Paul Holden, Senior Preconstruction Manager for Morgan Sindall Construction in the Southern Home Counties, said,
It’s fantastic to see the completion of the SEND teaching block and hydrotherapy pool at Philip Southcote School, where our work in collaboration with Surrey County Council, Pellings, and many others will help to support the next generation of pupils with additional needs and disabilities. These vibrant, high-quality educational environments signify a key investment in the future of Addlestone and the wider Surrey community, meeting the needs of local families.
The whole team is exceptionally proud of this state-of-the-art school, and we can’t wait to see the students settle in and start learning through these specialist facilities.”
Councillor Clare Curran, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Lifelong Learning said,
We are thrilled that the pupils of Philip Southcote School can now benefit from these outstanding new facilities. Our goal is to provide local children with additional needs and disabilities the best opportunities for improved outcomes, helping them feel included, transition successfully into adulthood, and receive high-quality education closer to home.
Our commitment extends across the county, aiming to increase the number of locally available maintained specialist school places from approximately 3,700 to up to 5,760 by 2030. My thanks go to our Education and Land and Property Teams, Morgan Sindall, Pellings, Bourne Education Trust, Mr Jerwood and Philip Southcote School, and all others involved in the project.”
Mr Jerwood, Headteacher of Philip Southcote School said,
Having the classrooms all together in this wonderful new building means our departments can work much more cohesively. We’ve got English, Maths, ICT and our deaf pupil provision set up much more effectively for our learners, complete with the latest technology and soundproofing.
One of our students described it as tranquil, which is fantastic for a learning space.”
Penny Alford, Deputy CEO of Bourne Education Trust said,
It was a real pleasure to have a tour around the new Philip Southcote building and talk to students about the design and impact of the project. I was struck by how ensuring dignity for all students, at all times, was at the heart of all the decision making. Students and staff are clearly very proud and excited about the next stage for the school.”
Marc Kimpton, Senior Associate at Pellings said,
It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the Project Team and to help deliver such a fantastic outcome for the pupils and staff at Philip Southcote School. I have been fortunate to be involved since 2021, initially supporting the refurbishment of The Meads, followed by the main school expansion. This has been a complex and rewarding project, with works taking place across much of the existing site, alongside the construction of a new Teaching Block and Hydrotherapy Pool, as well as improvements to the adjacent Fire Station.
Throughout, the team has faced numerous challenges, but thanks to a strong, solutions-focused partnership between Project Management and the Contractor, Morgan Sindall, we’ve successfully delivered two outstanding buildings and a transformed external environment – creating a space where current and future pupils can truly thrive.”
Surrey County Council is dedicated to enhancing specialist school provision through its SEND and Alternative Provision Capital Programmes which are key to the delivery of Surrey’s Inclusion and Additional Needs Partnership Strategy 2023-2026. The strategy aims to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with additional needs and disabilities in Surrey, ensuring they get the best possible education closer to home.
ENDS